Social skills refer to a set of traits a person shows in a social set-up in order to be a part of society. In this post, we have curated a list of social skills activities for kids that will help them connect with the people around them in the long run. When children bloom into teenhood, we notice a number of social changes that they show. These changes are mostly not positive, as they prefer not to speak up as much as they did as little kids. So how can you get them to communicate more and feel like a part of the community? How can you help your child make good connections with people? Well, don’t fret! We have a great set of activities that will help teenagers mingle more and make more friends. Teens must learn to deal with their grumpy moods and maintain a social balance that is healthy for them, as they need to maintain certain relationships. So read through this post to learn more about these activities.
10 Fun Social Skills Activities For Teens
1. Theater:
Theatre is a great activity for teenagers to meet new people and expand their horizons. Visit the local theater groups in your town/city and see if they have open spots for kids. Theatre may help your shy kid to open up and help your social kid to thrive in a creative environment. Kids who don’t like the limelight can also consider working in the costume or production department of theater companies. You should also encourage your teen to take part in school plays.
2. Activity Camps:
Summer camps with lots of fun activities are perfect for kids of all ages. Find a camp that is appropriate for your teenager. Camps are great places to make new friends, interact with strangers and also work alongside them. One-day or weekend camps are especially effective for teens who lack social skills. A day of interaction with new people and partaking in different activities can help even shy kids learn the skills needed for proper social interactions. There are tons of options for camps such as drama, dance, music, sports, science, etc.
3. Volunteer Work:
Volunteering is a great activity for kids of all age groups. Encourage your teen to volunteer at retirement homes, child welfare centers or animal shelters. They can also offer to teach useful skills to smaller kids or read books to them. Help them understand how they can organize volunteer works to help their neighborhood or community. Your teen can improve his social skills while helping others.
4. Sports Participation:
There is a reason sports matter so much in life. Beyond entertainment, there is a lot people can learn from sports. Teenagers can learn the value of teamwork, organization, leadership, motivation, fitness and support from playing sports. All these qualities are great for character-building and for improving socialization skills.
5. Art Classes:
Help nurture your teen’s artistic talent and get the added benefit of an improvement in social skills through art classes. Not only will your teen interact with instructors and fellow students, he will also get an outlet for creative self-expression. The activity helps shy kids express their views better. Encourage your teens to enroll in any art or craft classes just to test the waters. Painting classes, sketching, fabric art, pottery, sculpting and similar activities help teenagers express themselves to others in a better way.
6. Bonfire Night:
Organize bonfire nights for your teen. Plan events where you can invite your extended family and get to know each other better or reminisce about the good old times. Encourage your teenagers to throw a different kind of birthday party complete with a bonfire night as the perfect backdrop for fun times with friends.
7. Educational Trips:
So your teen loves museums, great! Plan activities where he can better his social skills. Visit different neighboring towns and explore all museums. Help your teens further explore this interest by bookstore visits where they can buy books about history. Find out about expert lectures and seminars on the subject and offer to accompany them to the event or pay for your teen to go with a friend. Educational trips are not only a great way to help teenagers explore their interests, but they also offer ample opportunities to interact with new people. Simply asking a question during the Q & A session of a lecture may require great deal of guts from a shy kid. Help them break the ice and converse with the museum tour guide or even interact with a stranger.
8. Game Nights:
Game night during a party or family event is a fun way to help your teenagers open up to others. Make such activities more thrilling by asking people to come up with their games on the spot. Select the best ones through votes and have a blast. The bonding will help your teen develop better socialization skills.
9. Live Events:
Watching live events together as a family or with friends can be an amazing experience for your teen. Championship games, dance performances, music recitals, quiz shows, competitions, etc., are live events that teenagers can watch in a social setting. They would be amidst a crowd, a majority of those people would be strangers. It will help your teen shed his inhibitions while he cheers for his favorite team.
10. Bowling Fun:
Plan an evening of bowling/roller skating/ice skating fun with your teen. Such visits can be great for developing your teen’s social skills as he will be around many people. As he will bowl or skate while others watch, the activity will help him burst his bubble. Free Worksheets and Printables for Kids Select GradePreschoolKindergarten1st Grade2nd Grade3rd Grade4th Grade5th Grade Select SubjectEnglishMathScienceSocial studies Search & Download
Social Skills Activities For Kindergarten
Your child needs appropriate guidance about good communication and behavior. It’s an excellent way to introduce social games for kids and concepts at varying developmental stages for your kindergarten and preschoolers.
11. Eye On The Forehead:
You Will Need:
Eye stickers.
How To:
12. Build The Vocab:
You Will Need:
A few objects like a kitchen tool, a toy or a stationary
How To:
13. Setting The Table:
You Will Need:
Markers Scissors Double-sided tape. Construction paper in 7 different colors.
How To:
Dinner fork Salad fork Soupspoon Teaspoon Knife Plate Water glass Napkin
14. Mimic Me:
You Will Need:
Nothing
How To:
15. Space Invader:
You Will Need:
Popsicle sticks Pictures of cartoon aliens. Crayons Glue
How To:
16. One Question Interview:
You Will Need:
Cards Pen
How To:
17. Telephone Skills:
You Will Need:
Round number stickers. Card stock paper Small sticky notes. Scissors
How To:
Social Activities For Young Children
Teaching social skills activities is important for the growth of your child. Here are few such helpful activities for your young and middle school aged children.
18. Emotion Charade:
You Will Need:
Paper Pen Bowl
How To:
19. Improvisational Storytelling:
Social skills may be delayed in some children, especially those with special needs. This is one such social skills activities for autism. You Will Need:
Pictures of emotions.
How To:
20. Swinging:
You Will Need:
Nothing
How To:
21. Freeze It:
This is one such best social skills activities for high school students and teens to improve their team building skills. You Will Need:
Nothing
How To:
22. Manners And More:
Social skills activities for middle school students help their personal growth and development. This is one such social development activities for children that can help them to understand about the social skills and thereby develop them. You Will Need:
Construction paper. Magazine Glue Scissors Markers Colors
How To:
23. Word Strips:
You Will Need:
Paper Pen Double-sided tape.
How To:
24. Who Has The Peanut?
You Will Need:
1 peanut in the shell
How To:
25. Name Game:
You Will Need:
A ball
How To:
